The Manning Verdict: …convicted on lesser charges, faces up to 136 years

Bradley Manning was convicted (PDF) on 19 counts today, including charges under the Espionage Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act for leaking approximately 700,000 government documents to WikiLeaks. While it was a relief was that he was not convicted of the worst charge ?aiding the enemy,? the verdict remains deeply troubling and could potentially result in a sentence of life in prison. The sentencing phase starts tomorrow and a fuller legal opinion from the judge should also come soon.

As anticipated as a conviction was, today?s news of the federal state winning convictions against Bradley Manning on all counts except the excessive, absurd, and unjustifiable charge of ?aiding the enemy,? is still very sad news. For Bradley Manning, the

A US court has acquitted Pfc. Bradley Manning of ?aiding the enemy?, the most serious of charges against him, but convicted him of 5 counts of espionage over his role in providing classified information to the whistleblower site Wikileaks.